Explorer Plates

Our work with the ASSET Arrows made it clear - children want a good food education so that they are empowered to make healthy choices. And they want those choices to be available when they have their lunch at school.

We are aspirational for children in ASSET schools - we want them to have the confidence to try a wide range of foods, so that they are confident to sit at any table when they become adults - able to enjoy food in every social, professional and cultural situation. 

We treat food education like the rest of the curriculum - an opportunity for children to learn about the world - culture, science, geography, nature.

We also listened to parents who told us that children also want food that tastes like home - comfort food that's rich in flavour and tradition.

So our Explorer plates are just that - a blend of familiar meals with a few things that are a bit different - offering children the opportunity in each menu cycle to try foods that are wholesome whilst extending their palate.

School is a wonderful place to learn - discovering new things with peers is the name of the game! We hope that this also helps parents who want to encourage children to try new things, especially a wider range of vegetables and fruit that develop habits for a long and healthy life!

"B loves school dinners and has broadened and become more adventurous at home since joining the school a year ago"  Parent, Wenhaston Primary

"Allowing children to try different things has been great, I think this should be more than once a week to allow kids to try different things, my daughter now eats more school dinners from trying some of the things first." Parent, Edgar Sewter Primary

"We like the different cultural foods that are explored in the menus, and our child has really enjoyed opportunities to be involved in the menus in the past."  St Helen's Primary